A smoke caused a commotion at a Southbound Light Rail Transit (LRT) train near the UN Avenue station Monday morning, hurting four passengers who were rushing to get out.
LRTA Administrator Rafael Rodriguez apologized for the incident which he described as caused by a solenoid (According to a website on the Internet, a solenoid is an electromechanical device which allows an electrical device to control the flow of a gas and liquid.) valve that created a smoke, which was repaired in minutes.
He lamented that at least four (4) passengers, Caroline Santos, 22, of Sta. Cruz, Manila, Jericho Tolentino, 32, of Tondo Manila, Pauline Anne Basco, 13 and Danille Patrcia Basco, 15, both from Tondo, Manila were hurt, when panic ensued at around 8:45 am and some passengers were pushing their way out of the train.
The operations in Line 1 stopped for about 10 minutes to let the passengers alight from the train but resumed immediately.
Santos, who witnessed the said incident, said that they panicked and screamed and pushed their way out of the train. They were frightened when doors did not immediately open while some pushed the emergency door-opening button.
“It took a few minutes before the train doors opened,” said Santos, adding that male passengers smashed the right window.
The injured passengers were immediately brought to the LRT Clinic at Central station and given medical treatment.
After thorough checking of all the underbodies and internal components of the train, the Engineering and Maintenance Team found out that there was a burnt Solenoid same as the smell of a burnt disc pad. It resulted from wear and tear.
Rodriguez said the Inventory Software will be reactivated to strengthen the Agency’s preventive maintenance of spares and consumables.